Student numbers swell at two-year colleges

Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 10:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 10:45 p.m.

Enrollment in Louisiana’s two-year colleges and technical schools continued to soar last year while four-year schools held steady, new statistics show.

Enrollment at two-year schools in the state grew by more than 3 percent in the 2011-2012 school year, the largest growth of any state in the South, according to the Southern Regional Educational Board.

Louisiana’s two-year colleges also grew faster than any other Southern state’s, swelling by more than 12 percent.

That growth means more students are getting technical training — 30 percent more students earned degrees or certifications from Louisiana technical schools.

Local school officials say that’s part of the plan.

“This is certainly something we’re expecting,” said Fletcher Technical Community College Chancellor Travis Lavigne, “and it’s certainly the case in this area.”

Enrollment at the Houma college has steadily blossomed, growing from 2,395 students in fall 2010 to 2,486 students in fall 2011.

Unofficial numbers suggest enrollment continued to grow, jumping to 2,502 last fall.

Enrollment at the school has almost doubled since 2007.

State officials have pushed in recent years to recruit more students to technical schools. They argue the oil industry and other fields are providing more jobs —many of them at high wages — than there are trained workers to fill them.

“People realize that, especially in this area, we can provide them with skills that can get them a good job with good pay,” Lavigne said.

While two-year schools grew, enrollment at four-year schools stalled last year, shrinking by less than 1 percent.

That trend is also true locally.

Nicholls State University’s enrollment shrank to 6,606 students this year, 2.5 percent less than last year.

Nicholls’ Executive Vice President Larry Howell said that doesn’t bother him because the decrease is a result of students graduating faster. At the same time enrollment declined, the school’s freshman class was actually larger.

“As we increase our admissions standards and receive a higher quality of student, we’re graduating people faster,” Howell said. “On the whole, it’s a good thing.”

Howell said the shift is fixing a skewed higher education system that has existed for years.

In most other states, the two-year system is more developed. Many students start their careers at the two-year schools, then transfer to four-year schools after building up their academic skills.

But Louisiana has leaned far more heavily on four-year schools, feeding them many people who might have been better served by starting at a two-year school.

“The state is just behind the curve on this,” Howell said. “What we’re seeing is the state coming in line with the model elsewhere.”

For those reasons, Howell said he’s not worried Nicholls faces difficulties from the shifting enrollment.

“A four-year degree is still important,” Howell said, “and we need to keep making sure that’s out there.”

Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright@dailycomet.com.

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